At the Annual General Meeting of the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, held at the London Tavern on Tuesday the 18th day of March, 1862, The Right Honourable WILLIAM CUBITT, Lord Mayor of London, in the Chair, The following Report of the Committee was read:— THE Committee of the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, on again rendering their annual account to its supporters and the public, have much gratification in being able to report its continued prosperity, and its still further advancement in public favour.

As its fleet of life-boats year by year increases in number, and the scale of its operations is enlarged, the Committee feel their augmented responsibility, and the importance of their receiving such increased assistance as shall enable them to regard with confidence the future prospects of the Institution. At the same time they entertain no fears—they are satisfied that the Society has taken deep root in the sympathies of the British nation, and that it will continue to be one of the most popular and steadily supported of the philanthropic institutions of our land.

As indications of general confidence, it may be stated that during the past twelve months three more of the old local Life-boat Establishments have, at the request of their managing bodies, been transferred to this Society, viz., those at Dundee, Scarborough, and Dublin Bay.

The incident of most special importance daring the past year to which the Committee have to allude, is the loss which, in common with the whole nation, the Institution has sustained by the lamented death of its il- lustrious Vice-Patron, the late PRINCE CONSORT.

They desire thus publicly to record the expression of their grief at that unexpected and deplorable event—their admiration of the public and private character of the deceased Prince—and their humble and loyal sympathy with the beloved and exalted Monarch of these realms in her bereavement.

Looking to the world-wide character of the great International Exhibition of the present year, the Committee have felt the importance of being represented at it, and have arranged for the exhibition there of models of the Institution's life-boat and transporting carriage, and of various articles in use for saving lives from shipwreck.

Feeling that a folly-equipped life-boat would be very inadequately represented by a model, they had hoped to have obtained space for the exhibition of a full-sized boat on her transporting carriage, that a Acsimile of a British life-boat on her station, in readiness for service, might have been seen by foreigners of every nation. The Committee believe that not only would such an object have excited universal interest, from its very size, beauty, and useful character, but that it would have been a magnificent addition to the International Exhibition, representing, as a literal " Friend of all -Nations," the fulfilment of a great national duty.

The Committee, however, regret to have to report that the requisite space in the Exhibition building could not be afforded them, although asked for at the beginning of last year.

The proceedings of the Institution, during the past twelve months, may be stated under the usual headings.

Lifeboats.—During the past year the Institution has placed fifteen new life-boats on the coast, viz., at Whitby, Selsey, St. Ives, Llanddwyn, Southport, Irvine, Campleltown, Winterton, Great Yarmouth, Dungeness, Scarborough, Aberystwith, Plymouth, Kingsgate, and Dundee. Others are in course of construction Blakeney,&, Kirkcudbright, Kingstown, Poolbeg, and Howth.

The Institution now possesses 120 lifeboats on the coasts of the United Kingdom, and one on the is/and of Guernsey. Of the fifteen boats added to its fleet daring the past year, no less than ten have been the special gifts of individuals, and the cost of another was collected amongst some members of the Society of Friends and presented by them to the Institution.

The Society's life-boats have, during the year 1861, saved two hundred and persons from different wrecks, nearly the whole under circumstances of peril which could not have been encountered by any ordinary boats. On seventy-nine other occasions they have gone off to the aid of vessels in apparent danger or in reply to signals of distress, but where their services have not eventually been required. For these several life-boat services upwards of 1,0001.

were granted.

The life-boats of the Institution were manned last year by nearly 6,000 persons, and it was only on one occasion the Committee had to report accident attended with loss of life, viz., to the Scarborough lifeboat.

On the 2nd of November last, when proceeding to a wreck during a dreadful storm, the boat got into a position where she was dashed repeatedly against the sea wall, and was nearly knocked to pieces. Although she did not upset, yet all her crew were thrown out of her: unfortunately two of them perished, one having been crushed between the boat and the wall, and the other drowned through neglecting to put on his life-belt.

On this occasion Lord CHARLES BEAUCLERK, William TINDALL, Esq., and Mr.

JOHN ILES, unhappily, but nobly perished, having been swept away by a heavy surf while intrepidly engaged in attempting to save the boat's crew. In this case the destroyed boat had been presented to the Society but a few weeks before. Immediately after the accident, the cost of another was generously given to the Institution by Mrs.

Cockroft, a lady resident at Scarborough.

Life-boot Carriages—"New carriages "awe been built for the whole of the fifteen lifeboats above enumerated, and others are in course of construction.

Boat-houses.—New houses of a substantial character hare been erected, from designs famished by the Honorary Architect to the Institution, at Selsey, St. Ives, lAand yn, Southport, Margate, Guernsey, Campbeltown, Aberystwyth, Plymouth, Kingsgate, and Kirkcudbright, and those at Whitby, Scarborough, and Irvine have been thoroughly renovated. Other houses are in course of erection.

.Barometers.—The Committee have the satisfaction to state that they have placed forty-five barometers at the different lifeboat stations of the Institution. Attached to each barometer is a chart, on which the daily indications of the instrument are registered. By means of this diagram the boatmen and fishermen are enabled readily to observe the progressive rise and fall of the mercury. It is gratifying to know that the barometers are highly appreciated on the coast, and that, in several striking instances, they have been the means of warning seafaring men of the coming storm, which' would otherwise probably have overtaken them in mid-ocean, and proved their destruction. Mr. GLJUSSER, F.R.S., of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, continues to render the Institution important assistance by verifying the barometers, and thus securing their permanent efficiency.

Shipwrecks and Loss of Life.—The Committee always feel that it is one of their most painful duties to refer to the distressing loss of life that annually takes place on the coasts of the United Kingdom. Notwithstanding all the services of the life-boats, and the rocket and mortar apparatus, the casual observer might prematurely conclude that they were nearly abortive, inasmuch as the yearly total loss of life from shipwrecks appears to be little diminished. When, however, it is remembered that the trade of these islands has so increased, even since 1855, that nearly 20,000 vessels have, in 1860, been entered inwards and cleared outwards beyond the number of the former year, it will at once be seen how vast the increase of risk of life has been, for these 20,000 vessels had probably on board at least 120,000 men and boys.

Although the Committee deeply regret to have to report that 884 lives perished last year from shipwrecks on our coasts, yet every friend of humanity must rejoice with them in the gratifying fact that 4,624 lives were rescued during the same period from these disasters. Of these 743 owe their lives immediately to the services of lifeboats.

These are tangible and unmistakeable results, which have elicited not only the heartfelt gratitude of the wrecked men themselves and their families, but have also excited the sympathy and liberality' of a large proportion of the British public, who now look upon the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION as one of the most important establishments of the country. Actuated alike by that penetrating influence, Divine Sympathy, high and low, rich and poor, may join hand in hand in united efforts for a common good. Illustrative of such noble emulation, there are amongst the recent offerings to the Institution the sums of 10Z.

from a " shipwrecked pilot," 5s. from the "savings of a child," and 50/. from a British admiral, Sir JAMES HOPE, K.C.B., who, amidst the untiring exertions of an arduous command, found time to think of the claims on his benevolence from his distant home, and forwarded the above generous contribution from the China seas.

The number of lives saved during the year 1861, as shown by the official returns of the Board of Trade, is as follows:— By Life-boats . 743 By rocket and mortar apparatus , , 447 By ships' own boats, shore boats, steamers, &c. . . . . . . . 3,406 By individual exertion 28 Total . . . 4,624 As observed before, the persons saved by life-boats were rescued under the most dangerous circumstances, and few of whom could have been saved by any other means. One case will show the character of such services:— On the 10th of February, in the fearful gale from the east which caused such destruction to shipping and terrible loss of life on the east coast, the brig Providence, of Shields, coal laden, was driven on the Long Scarr Rocks, between the mouth of the Tees and Hartlepool. The Seaton Carew lifeboat, belonging to the NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, was quickly launched, and proceeding to her assistance through a high surf, took off her crew, eight in number, and landed them in safety. She had scarcely done so when she was again called to the aid of the brig May-flower, of Newcastle, also coal laden, which had gone ashore on the East Gare Sand, off the Tees mouth.

The life-boat also took off her crew of eight men, and safely landed them. " I wish you had been here on that disastrous Saturday and Sunday (9th and 10th February)," writes the Honorary Secretary, the Rev. J.

LAWSON, of the Seaton Carew Branch ; " I am sure you would have been gratified to see the gallant way in which our crew worked, though composed, as you know, chiefly of landsmen. They were going from 9 A.M. on Saturday until 11 A.M. on Sunday, without rest, and not only attending to our own life-boat, but helping to man the West Hartlepool boat when short of hands." * • The Seaton Carew life-boat was presented, in 1859, by WILLIAM McKBERELL, Esq. Since the boat has been on her station she has saved the following shipwrecked crews:— Brig Eliza, of Middteborough, 1; Brig Atayflmcer, of Newcastle, 8 ; Brig Providence, of Shields, 8 ; Barque Robert Watson, of Sunderland, 5; Total, 28.

The total number of persons saved from shipwreck from the establishment of the Institution in 1824 to the end of the year 1861, either by its life-boats, or for which it has granted rewards, is as follows:— In the Year 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1842 1843 So. of TAves Saved.

124 218 175 -163 301 463 372 287 310 449 214 364 225 272 456 279 353 128 276 23.6 In the Tfear 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 , 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 18G1 No. of Lives Saved.

193 235 134 157 123 209 470 230 773 678 355 406 473 374 427 499 455 416 Total . . 12,272 Rewards.—It is fcardlj necessary to state that the rewards of the NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION are not limited to the crews of its life-boats. As the sea-coasts of the, British isles extend upwards of 5,000 miles, of course it would be utterly impracticable to station life-boats on many points where perhaps only a few fishermen are found to reside. There, however, these men are nearly always ready to risk their lives and little property to succour their shipwrecked fellow creatures. Although impelled instinctively to render such services, yet the Committee have reason to believe that the rewards of the Institution stimulate these gallant men in the performance of their sacred work.

A summary of the cases in which honorary and pecuniary rewards have been voted by the Institution during the past year for saving, or attempting to save life, will be found in the Appendix to this Report. The total in number and amount is as follows : —39 silver medals, 17 votes of thanks inscribed on vellum, and the sum of 1,287Z.

14s. 2d. in pecuniary rewards. The Committee have, as usual, bestowed the utmost care in investigating the merits of every case. In that important work tine prompt and cordial co-operation of the Commodore Controller-General and Deputy Controllev- General, and of the officers of the Coastguard service, has been afforded to them.

The scale or amount of reward is, as a general rule, made proportionate to the amount of risk and exposure incurred by the parties performing the service.

The Committee desire also to acknowledge the continued valuable assistance received by the Institution from the Mercantile Marine Fund, through Her Majesty's Board of Trade.

It is satisfactory to know that the medals and other honorary awards of the Institution are much coveted by the coast boatmen, and men of the Coast-guard service, and that the amount and prompt payment of its pecuniary rewards afford general satisfaction.

The operations of the Committee may be thus briefly stated :—Since the formation of the Institution it has expended on life-boat establishments 57,000/., and has voted 82 gold and 705 silver medals for distinguished services in saving life, besides pecuniary awards, amounting together to 15,384Z.

Local Committees.—The Committee desire to acknowledge the cordial co-operation of the local Branch Committees, which constitute so important a portion of the machinery for the supervision of the several life-boat establishments of the Institution. They have likewise especially to express their sense of the valuable and gratuitous services of the Honorary Secretaries of those Committees, who conduct the correspondence with the Parent Institution.

Finances. — The total receipts of the Society during the year 1861 have been 15,092?. 10s. Wd. Of this sum no less than 1.509Z. 19s. 6d. was given by the fol- lowing parsons to defray the cost of lifeboats: — £. jr. d.

Scarborough—~W,B . . . , . « 315 0 0 Ditto—Mrs, Cockroft . . , . . 212 19 6 Dongeness—Bey. H. J. Hmtchessen, M.A. . . . . . . . . . ISO 0 0 Kingstowa—Collected by Miss S. H.

Bertie Cator 176 0 0 Aberystwyth—Mrs. B. Wood , , , 170 0 0 Cantyre—The late JLady Murray, in addifioa to 3001, (balance) , , . 131 0 0 Dundee— Collected by Mrs. Hartley. 145 0 0 Buckle—A Fri«ad, in addition to 5401, 180 0 0 The Committee have to express their thanks to Miss S, H. BEETIE CATOR, daughter of Admiral CATQK, their zealous coadjutor, who has collected altogether, from her friends and others, 2101, towards the cost of a life-boat.

Also to Mrs. HABTUEHT, of Bideford, who has continued her indefatigable exertions OB behalf of the life-boat cause, and who has collected 4102., to be appropriated in aid of the cost of the Dundee life-boat and the Brauaton life-boat bouse.

The acknowledgments of the Committee are likewise dae to the Hewbiggin Branch, and other friends of the Institution in Northumberland, fo» their valuable co-operation in holding, last summer, a bazaar at Newbiggin in aid of its lands, the net proceeds of which realized the large sum of 3001, Also to the town and neighbourhood of Ipswich for the munificent contribution of 5001, to defray the entire cost of a lifeboat station. Although not on the coast, Ipswich has set a noble example to inland towns, IB thus indirectly performing an important part in the national duty of preserving the lives of shipwrecked sailors.

For the organization and successful completion of this important movement the Institution is mainly indebted to Mr, W.

BATEMAS BTSG, of the firm of Messrs.

BA SOMBS & SIMS, of Ipswich.

The following legacies have been received during the past year:—The late Mrs. WELHELMIHA WATSON, of Berwick-on-Tweed, 4501.; Miss ANN EASTER BARBER, of Warwick, 50?.; THOMAS FISHER HEMIHQTON, Esq., of Uplyme, Devon, 1001; J, B.

JUDKIN, Esq., of Hackney, 1051.; Miss 1, S. B, PALMER, of St. Ann's Gardens, St.

John's Wood, 451.; Epwra CUTHBERT, Esq., of Camberwell, 501. ; and Captain BOWEEBAHK, R.N., 90L The expenditure during the past year was 13,955?. 2s. IQd, of which sam 6,1621.2s. M.

were expended on additional life-boats, transporting carriages, boat-houses, and necessary gear; and 3,0571. 3s, 4C on the necessary expenses of repairs, painting, refitting, and inspection j 1,3682. 3*. 2d. in payment of services to shipwrecked crews j and 1,0502, 13s. lOdl (including what was paid by the local Branch funds) on coxswains* salaries, and -for the quarterly practice of the boats* crews.

The Committee have to express their thanks to the several .Railway and. Steam Packet Companies, who hare, almost without exception, most liberally continued to carry the life-boats of the Institution to all parts of the United Kingdom free of charge, The stems of receipt and expenditure are given ia detail in the financial statement annexed to this Report. It will be seen, that the Committee have incurred farther liabilities amounting to 2,8241. for various life-boat establishments, fec.

With one hundred and twenty-one lifeboats under their charge, it is only reasonable to expect that amongst such a fleet casualties will occasionally take place. Some boats, from accidents, will be permanently disabled— others will decay from natural causes. Independently, therefore, of the large annual income indispensable to the keeping up in a state of permanent efficiency 121 life-boat establishments, probably no year will pass without some of the boats themselves tecpuring to be replaced.

The operations of the Institution DOW extend al! over the British isles. To maintain and perpetuate these operations is a matter of earnest and" constant solicitude to the Committee, They have incurred a grave responsibility; but they do not shrink from it, and are determined, with. the-continued blessing of the Almighty and the sympathy and liberality of the British public, to leave no eftbrt untried that can in any way tend to lessen the annual loss of life from shipwrecks on oar shores..